Abstract:Objective To study the chemical constituents in the fresh rhizome of Pinellia ternata,and provide the scientific basis for quality control.Methods Various chromatographic techniques were used to separate and purify the chemical constituents and their chemical structures were determined on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis.The inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)production in the peritoneal macrophages of mice stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)were observed in vitro by microplate ultraviolet-colorimetric method.Results Eight compounds were isolated and identified as cycloartenol(Ⅰ),β-sitosterol(Ⅱ),α-monpalmitin(Ⅲ), daucosterol(Ⅳ),isopinelloside(1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,4E,11Z)-2-(2R-hydroxyhex- adecenoyl-amino)-4,11-octadecadiene-1,3-diol,Ⅴ),daucosterol-6′-O-eicosanate(β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D- glucoside-6′-O-eicosanate,Ⅵ),uracil(Ⅶ),and sucrose(Ⅷ).The inhibitory effects of cycloartenol and isopinelloside were 54.7% and 47.5%,respectively,against the TNF-αproduction in the peritoneal macrophages of mice stimulated with LPS at a concentration of 10μmol/L in vitro.Conclusion The isopinelloside is a new compound.The anti-inflammatory effects of the rhizome of P.ternata is at least re- lated to cycloartenol and isopinelloside.